Carlyle at a glance
- Population: 3,197, the 405th-largest community in Illinois out of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,254 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 1.8% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 405th-largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 69% of Illinois's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 38.6223, -89.3754 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Breese, IL (8 mi); Centralia, IL (15 mi); Greenville, IL (18 mi); New Baden, IL (19 mi); Highland, IL (20 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Beckemeyer, IL (3 mi); Huey, IL (5 mi); Bartelso, IL (7 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Carlyle
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Carlyle
The table carries the Illinois rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Carlyle.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Carlyle
Run through this list before signing anything in Carlyle:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.